I’M CHILDFREE – WHAT’S IT TO YOU?

There’s a certain cache to be had as a mother. Even in 2015, with a possible first female President looming in 2018 and with women’s rights having come a long way…our most basic function here on Earth as women is to procreate.

When you get to a certain age and are still without child – let’s say 35+ – a female’s reproductive status seems to become public property.

People will openly ask you at parties, at work and at family functions, “when are you going to start a family” or “what happened you didn’t want kids.”

Whether you’re married, dating, living with someone or tragically single, they will still insist on inquiring. As if…they were asking you something as simple as “where did you get that amazing necklace”? Do they ask the men the same question? Does a 40 year old man get cornered at work over the water cooler and asked “when are you going to have a baby?”

A married, gorgeous good friend of mine in her mid-40’s was at a holiday party last year who was the only childless standout in a room of 20 mothers. Milling around, she was continually asked the horribly loaded question, “when do you think you will have a baby?” Annoyed and irritated, she ended up having fun with the situation and created a story that she and her husband had 2 beautiful children in a Swiss boarding school. She received reactions of horror that she had sent her children away to live in a foreign country. After that she felt defeated and decided to stick with the polite smiles and dodging the question as much as possible to avoid public ridicule and judgement.

My go to fave TV show in history ‘Sex and the City’ showcased 4 women in their late 30’s – late 40’s who remained childless until Miranda accidentally got pregnant. The 3 other social butterflies were at a bit of a loss with what to do with this bouncing baby boy named Brody. They had their lives and each other. With a healthy side of men and shoes!

We are in the midst of a baby frenzy with the birth a month ago of Princess Charlotte and Kim Kardashian announcing her 2nd baby joy. Kim went through rounds of IVF and was calling psychics for help. Ever notice that as soon as a celebrity gets married, within a week the tabloids are speculating she is pregnant? Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Aniston, Amal Clooney, and Khloe Kardashian, were all “pregnant” multiple times over the past few years. And then as soon as women pops out baby number 1, the question is when is baby number 2 coming? Enough with the pressure already!

Here are 10 childfree women, who inspire me, that have achieved great success and happiness in life.